Hello Everyone! The bougainvilea is currently in full bloom. The mild Mediterranean climate of the Sintra Region and the very sunny Algarve in southern Portugal lure sun seeking visitors form northern countries all year round. www.responsibletravel.com higlights an interesting selection of get-away possibilities. One of them is our very own Colina Flora. We are still number one on www.tripadvisor.com in the B&B category for Colares, Portugal. And the positive reviews keep coming in. Check-out our website www.colinaflora.com . We still have availability for September and October.

Hello Everyone! The weather is so great here in August,September and October – often into December- that it deserves to be raved about. Sunny day averaging around 22 degrees Celsius and cool nights. Perfect for walking and many other activities. Great Surfing, especially windsurfing and Body Boarding, at Guincho beach. And the beaches are less crowded. Adraga Beach is spectacular. And Colina Flora is a great place to stay at: peaceful country setting, yet only 1.5 km above the quaint village of Almocageme and only a 5 minute drive to adraga Beach….www.colinaflora.com

Hello Everyone! Too many exciting events to choose from in this very special part of the world, we have had to put off going to many of the events until next year.We loved the Medival Festivals of Obidos and Sintra. The city of Silves is hosting its Medival Festival during the second half of August. These Festivals are elaborate affairs celebrating Portugal´s heritage. Medival food and drink, crafts, jugglers, theater, dancers, animals and musicans all dressed in traditonal costums create a colorful and upbeat portrayalof Medival Portugal set in beautiful ancient town squares. Every year Sintra has a music and dance festival. This year was a celebration of Mahler and Liszt from June 24 to July 10th, 2011. There was a large selection of concerts, films, lectures and opera to choose from. Today America´s World Cup Sailing Series starts in the Bay of Cascais. The amazing catamarans will make their world premiere marking the start of an exciting journey with a destination of San Francisco in 2013. And something to look forwward to: the annual free music extravaganza in Cascais: Festas Do Mar August 19 to 28, 2011. The stage isset in the heart of the city center right on the bay. A great setting with nightly concerts and fireworks. Enjoy your hoidays here and consider staying at Colina Flora www.colinaflora.com

2010...an exciting night at the annual Festas do Mar in Cascais

Tidbits from Portugal

Colina Flora

eco-country guesthouse in the Sintra Hills of Portugal

Good morning power smoothie

Put in blender: 1 cup coconut water, water or tea, juice of 1 lemon, one inch piece of fresh ginger cut into small pieces, 1 banana, 5 chard leaves stripped off their stems blend and enjoy we mix in 2 Tablespoons of ground flaxseeds or soaked Chia seeds before drinking

Colina Flora's eco-guest house, tasty vegetarian fare

Fava Beans are heralds of Spring. Many farmer market vendors sit shelling the beans while awaiting the next customer. We love Fava Bean Puree: Shell about 4 pounds of mature Fava beans. Blanch for 30 seconds in boiling water, drain, and rinse with cold water. Pop the beans out of their skins. Cook the beans in about a half inch of water with 6 cloves of chopped garlic and a sprig of Rosemary for about 10 to 15 minutes until they can easily be mashed with a potato masher. Drain the beans, toss out the rosemary, mash, stir in 3 tablespoons of olive oil (more to taste), salt and pepper to taste, a splash of lemon juice and enjoy with crusty warm bread.

Delicious, quick and easy, winter fruit salad

Mix the seeds of a pomegranate with these chopped fruits: 4 kiwis 3 apples 2 pears 2 oranges 1 banana 1 pineapple add a half to one cup of unsweetened coconut flakes chill for half an hour or longer: enjoy!!!